When Is It Not a Good Idea to Ride the Train?

Recently, the Metro System in Washington DC recorded a number of incidents of injuries involving riders who were intoxicated.

Taking public transport is definitely much safer than operating a car. That is especially true if the person is under the influence of alcohol, However, for a person who is heavily under the influence of alcohol, riding trains could actually be very dangerous, and should probably be avoided.

So, when is it not a good idea to ride the train? Recently, the Metro System in Washington DC recorded a number of incidents of injuries involving riders who were intoxicated. In most of these cases, the riders were severely intoxicated, and in at least one case, the person had a blood-alcohol concentration level that was at least three times the maximum permissible level for operating a car. There were a number of incidents in which intoxicated persons fell onto the rail tracks, or fell down escalators. Some of these persons suffered serious injuries, including head and neck injuries. In one case, surveillance cameras recorded a man, who was walking down an escalator at the station, lost his balance and fell approximately 20 feet below. He suffered head and neck injuries. In another case, passers-by had to help a severely drunk woman, who had stumbled and fallen onto the track bed, get up and off the track.

In fact, so serious have been these incidents that Metro officials recently began warning riders that drinking too much alcohol and riding on the rail system, can could seriously increase their risk of being involved in injuries. Falling onto track beds, falling from escalators, and falling onto platforms-all of these are serious situations, and there is a definite risk of injury, or even death. According to Metro officials, there is not just a risk of getting hit by a train when you fall on a track, but also a serious risk of getting electrocuted.

Public transportation is much safer for people who have had little to drink, and may not trust their driving skills to be 100%. However, if a person is heavily drunk, taking a taxi may be the best option.

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